<\/p>\n
Drivers crashing off snowpacked and icy roads have kept emergency responders and law enforcement busy.<\/p>\n
On the evening of Dec. 12, a car traveling northbound on U.S. 491 in Cortez lost control in a snowstorm, hit a median and went off the east side of the road, said Cortez Police Department Lt. Andy Brock.<\/p>\n
The responding officer stopped his patrol vehicle on the side of the road with flashing lights to warn other drivers. As he was walking back from the crash site, a northbound truck lost control on snowpacked roads and rear-ended the unoccupied patrol car.<\/p>\n
Brock said both accidents were weather related. No citations were issued, and there were no major injuries.<\/p>\n
On Dec. 14, a car pulling out of a driveway on Colorado Highway 145 in Cortez slid on ice into oncoming traffic and clipped a southbound truck. The truck slid sideways, and flipped onto its side in a resident\u2019s yard. There were no injuries, Brock said, and the driver of the car exiting the driveway was issued a citation.<\/p>\n
On Dec. 14 at 9:45 a.m., a southbound truck on Colorado 145 south of Rico lost control in icy conditions, slid off the road and struck a tree, said Colorado State Trooper Josh Lewis. The driver was cited for careless driving. There were no injuries.<\/p>\n
On Dec. 15 at 1:15 p.m. a westbound SUV on County Road P lost control on a snowpacked curve just east of County Road 25, reported a Montezuma County Sheriff deputy. The vehicle flipped and landed upside down near a creek. The female driver and male passenger crawled out of the vehicle, said Cortez Fire Department District Chief Jay Balfour. The woman was transported to Southwest Memorial Hospital with a minor injury. The section of road was closed for a short time while the scene was cleared.<\/p>\n
The crash was being investigated by the Colorado State Patrol.<\/p>\n
On Dec. 15 about 2:30 p.m., another car slid off Road M east of Road 28 and flipped upside down, said Balfour. The driver was transported to Southwest Memorial Hospital with minor injury, he said.<\/p>\n
Weather and slick roads were contributing factors in all of the wrecks, officials said. Snowfall and a lingering cold spell have left roads icy in places, Brock said.<\/p>\n
\u201cSlow down a lot in icy conditions and give yourself plenty of space between the vehicle in front of you,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Good winter tires are also key for road safety.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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